The event was promoted as sort of a “live Etsy” in which you can touch the items and meet their creators.

The event was open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and when I showed up at about 9:45, the parking lot was full and the place was packed, mostly with women shopping in groups. It was a lively, fun atmosphere despite the 5-degree morning.

I recognized two of the vendors: J.B. Knacker, a vintage shop in Gilbert that I wrote about back in 2011, and Lisa Orgler Designs. Lisa is on staff at Iowa State and she’s done some artwork for VISIONS magazine. I adore her illustrations, which she offers on note cards, postcards, and matted for framing (see the display above).

People seemed to be buying – Christmas is less than three weeks away, after all – so I hope the event was financially successful. (My shopping is already finished, more or less, so I admit that didn’t really do my part. All I bought was a burlap bird ornament for a tree I do not have. Sad, really.)

Future Lucky Star Markets are being planned for spring and fall 2014. You can follow the progress on Facebook.